Blind fastening system

Abstract

A threadlike retainer cord is used to bring a flat nut inserted through a surface or wall into position with the hole in the surface for a screw to mate with the threads in the nut. This fastening system provides a simple way to fasten objects together without having access to both sides. The retainer cord has elongated ends that are larger than the holes they are put through. The nut is put horizontally through the hole in the wall and rotates 90 degrees after dropping through the hole. The nut is pulled into position over the hole by the cord. In one case the cord goes through a hollow screw while the opposite end is through the threaded hole in the nut. Another possibility is using small holes on both sides of the threaded hole in the nut. The cord is looped through these two holes and aligns the threaded hole in the nut with the hole in the wall when the cord is pulled. This makes it easy to mate a screw with the nut.

1 . A blind fastening system comprising a nut having a single flexible retainer cord through the center of the nut and through the center of a hollow screw for supporting the nut in alignment for a hollow screw.  
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the threaded nut is pointed so that it can be driven through an object thereby making its own hole.  
   
   
       3 . The system of claims I wherein the retainer cord has elongated ends for holding the nut after it is inserted through the hole in the surface thereby allowing the cord to bring the nut into alignment with the hole in the surface.  
   
   
       4 . The system of claims  1  wherein one end of the retainer cord is in the threaded hole of the nut and the other end is insertable through a hole along the center of the mating screw, thereby insuring that the screw threads mate with the nut threads.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The system of claims  1 ,  2 , and  3  wherein the retainer cord goes through small holes on opposite sides of the threaded hole, thereby allowing the cord to bring the threaded hole into alignment with the surface hole for a screw to mate with the threaded hole in the nut.